End of September
09/2024
Jordan Edgington
Grade Taught:
1st Grade
How many years have you been teaching?
8 years
What is your most memorable teaching moment?
I would say my most memorable teaching moment was when a parent sent me a video of their child teaching to their siblings what we learned in class. Not only did they replicate my mannerisms but they also said the things I say consistently during the school day. That moment truly made me realize what an impact we have on kids whether we can see it in the moment or not.
Who was your favorite teacher growing up?
My 4th grade teacher, Mr. Ward. He made learning so much fun and engaging. I looked forward to coming to school every day. He made everyone feel so special and told us daily that he believed in us. He is the one who really ignited my passion for becoming a teacher. He was an inspiration to me growing up and I hope I have and can continue to be that for my students.
Favorite place to shop?
Target
Fun fact about yourself?
I lived and taught First Grade in Chiang Rai, Thailand back in 2017. Not only did I get to pursue my love for teaching abroad, I also saw and got to experience so many incredible things.
Mrs. Downerd
Position at school:
Success Coach
How many years in your field?
20! I always have to count and was shocked when I realized this is my 20th year.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I love getting to know so many students in the building. Working in so many classrooms allows me to form so many positive relationships with students. It always makes me smile when I walk through the hallway and so many students say hello.
Who was your favorite teacher growing up?
My favorite teacher growing up my elementary music teacher Mrs. Lazenby. I love music and singing and have fond memories of her class. I remember learning to play the recorder with her, as well as, she was the head of the elementary show choir that I was apart of. We went to a competition in Washington D.C. my fifth grade year and I remember performing the song "Friend Like Me" from Aladdin.
Favorite place to shop?
Home Goods/Marshalls
Fun fact about yourself?
I can twirl the baton! I took classes when I was younger and still have my baton and love to get it out and twirl it around! I never tried to be drum major in high school because I was a part of the band, but my junior and senior year instead of marching I was the band announcer at football games announcing over the loudspeaker the songs the band was performing.
Diwali with Miss Wojo
Miss Wojo's second grade class learned all about Diwali made their our own lanterns to celebrate the festival of lights!
Dot Day with Mrs. Church
International Dot Day is a wonderful opportunity for students to learn the value of cooperation and creativity. As they come together to celebrate self-expression and courage, students also practice working in teams, sharing ideas, and respecting each other's contributions. By collaborating on dot-inspired projects, they develop important social skills that will benefit them in school and beyond. This day encourages our children to make their mark, not just individually, but as part of a supportive and connected community.
Fastest Class with Mrs.Archer
This year in Physical Education we are incorporating the Fastest Class Challenge in our building. We will do this challenge for a total of 4 times this school year. Each class has 5 minutes to walk or run as many laps as possible around the gym, I then divide that by the number of students in the classroom. This will then give me an average of how many laps the students run/walk. The class that has the highest average in their grade level will be announced as the fastest class. We have already completed round 1 and the winners are as follows: K- Ms. Summerfield, 1st- Mrs. Geary, 2nd- Ms. Wojo, and 3rd - Mrs. Knorr. Our next round will be sometime in November. Congratulations to all classes on their win!!!
Understanding Emotions
The ability to name and distinguish between different emotions is a core skill children start learning early in life. Check out these resources from The Kids Mental Health Foundation for activities and ideas to help your child understand emotions.
October PBIS Calendar
Use the questions from our PBIS calendar to talk about your child's positive behaviors and experiences throughout the day. These PBIS conversations help improve our school climate, improve social/emotional competence, increase academic performance, reduces challenging behaviors, improves perception of safety, and sets clear expectations at school.
Everyone can be a Leader!
This week, we learned about paradigms. Paradigms, or how we see things, can shape how we lead ourselves and others. View the Paradigms article to learn more about Leader in Me paradigms and ways to engage your family!
Who do You Represent?
Every Ranger, Every Reason, Every Day!
EVERY RANGER. This phrase is meant to include everyone—every student, every staff member, every graduate and every community member. All of us working together.
EVERY REASON. The primary focus of every school system is the academic achievement of all students. Our staff and, by extension, our community take on the challenge of doing even more for our students. We educate the whole child. Whatever the need, whatever the issue, whatever the REASON we are going to work together and do the best we can for each other.
EVERY DAY. Thank you to our HLSD community for making our students a priority every day, and for always pitching in to help one another